Preliminary Findings on the Impact of Observing Variable Stars on Middle School Students' Beliefs and Attitudes**(Abstract)
Volume 34 number 2 (2006)
- Pebble Richwine
- James R. Bedient
- Timothy Slater
Abstract
(Abstract only) In Spring 2005, middle school students in the desert Southwest used the curriculum packet “In the Hunt for Variable Stars.” Preliminary results are contributing to a larger study of how authentic research impacts students’ beliefs and attitudes toward the nature of science. The paper provides initial and post-program data from surveys, class observations, and interviews. Students concentrated their studies on the Right Ascension 19h 45m using StarDial data available online.